Black Bear Hunting Bethlehem PA

This page provides useful content and local businesses that can help with your search for Black Bear Hunting. You will find helpful, informative articles about Black Bear Hunting, including "Spring Farmland Bear Hunting" and "The Bear Facts - 25 Things Every Black Bear Hunter Should Know". You will also find local businesses that provide the products or services that you are looking for. Please scroll down to find the local resources in Bethlehem, PA that will answer all of your questions about Black Bear Hunting.

Spring Farmland Bear Hunting

From my perch high up in a poplar tree, I patiently gazed in the direction of my bait barrel. A movement to the left caught my attention and within seconds I spotted the outline of a black bear. The animal was standing in heavy underbrush and it was difficult to see how big the bear was. The bear cautiously moved along and within minutes it was less than 20 yards from the tree I was sitting in. By the time it got that close, I had determined it was a mature, well furred bear with a jet black hide and muzzle.

Since it was only the second day of my hunt, I decided to take my chances and passed up the blackie. In exchange, I was able to watch the black bear as it went about its business. The bear dumped the bait barrel, fed for while, napped a bit, then stood up and contently fed on newly sprouted grass shoots and tree buds near my tree stand. The bear eventually grazed away from my bait site and disappeared into the thick underbrush.

The next afternoon, I was back on the same stand. Approximately an hour after settling into the stand, I could hear something moving on the hillside directly behind me. After what seemed like an eternity I finally spotted a black colored bear to my right. This bear was extremely cautious and kept its distance. For several minutes, it licked its nose and sniffed the air, while my heart pounded and my legs trembled with anticipation.

Finally, the bear was content that all was safe and made a direct path for the bait barrel. As soon as it arrived, it knocked the barrel over and started picking at meat scraps. Although this bear was similar in size and color to the bear from the previous evening, I knew it was a different bear because this one had a brown muzzle.

Whiling watching the bear feeding perfectly broadside to me, I decided that I shouldn't push my luck again and decided to take this bruin. Ever so slowly, I raised my rifle, released the safety and centered my cross hairs on the bear's front shoulder.

When I pulled the trigger, the bear lurched forward and crashed into the underbrush behind the bait barrel. For a few seconds, I could hear the bear crashing through the trees. Then all went quiet, except for my heavy breathing and pounding heart.

From what I had seen and heard, I was very confident that a dead bear was waiting for me. However, I sat and waited for as long as I could (maybe 20 minutes) before climbing out of my tree stand and walking towards the spot where the bear was last seen. When I arrived, there was strong evidence of a solid hit. After a short tracking job, I recovered a prime spring farmland black bear.

With all this talk of bears and bear hunting, you're probably wondering where I was hunting. Well, to be honest with you, I was hunting in central Saskatchewan, but I wasn't in the forest region where most bear hunting is done. Instead, I was a good 30 - 40 miles away from the forest on private farmland. Yes that is correct, I said private farmland.

The Bear Facts - 25 Things Every Black Bear Hunter Should Know

Despite divided opinion about the political correctness of bear hunting, it is something every hunter should try at least once. But a word of caution, if you want to make the most of your outings, there are a few key things you should know. The more knowledgeable you are, the better your chances of tagging a trophy.

Fact #1 - Ursus americanus can be found roaming the woods in every northern state, all provinces and many eastern and western states. The smallest member of the bear family in North America, black bears are the most populated. Thriving in almost every jurisdiction, populations are on the rise across the continent.

Fact #2 - Black bears can be hunted in the spring or fall. Each state and province has specific regulations dictating when and how bears can be hunted. If you want to spend more time in the woods, black bears make the perfect prey during the months of April, May and June. With thick coats in prime condition, springtime is the preferred choice of bear hunters. If you're fortunate enough to connect with a trophy-sized black bear during the first few weeks of leaving the den, chances are you'll end up with a beautiful specimen, well worth making into a rug or head mount.

Fact #3 - Over-the-counter tags are only available in certain states and provinces. Some states issue tags only through a limited entry draw/lottery process.

Fact #4 - In many ways black bears are misrepresented and misunderstood. Ironic but true, bruins are gentle by nature. This stands in contrast to their stereotypically vicious reputation.

Fact #5 - Found in a variety of color phases, pelage can range from white through yellow, with black, brown and cinnamon being the most common. Their ominous looking dark shiny coat is the obvious contributor to their malignant image; it may also be the black bear's slow, methodical and calculated gestures. Whatever the reason, these quiet, yet dominant nomads of our coniferous and mixed forests, are worthy of both admiration and respect.

Fact #6 - A sow will typically accompany her cubs for 16 or 17 months. At the end of this period she will sever ties, forcing the youngsters to go off on their own.

Fact #7 - Females will reach their maximum size at six years, and boars continue to grow to a maximum size at 12 years of age. On average, most bears taken by hunters weigh somewhere between 125 and 300 pounds. Any black bear topping the 300-pound mark is considered large.

Fact #8 - Aside from body weight, black bears are judged by the size of their skull, with a Boone & Crockett minimum eligibility score of 21 inches and a Pope & Young score of 18 inches.

Fact #9 - We often hear of bears being territorial and, in a sense, this is true. While there exists a distinct hierarchy within the ranks of bear world, it is not uncommon to find many individuals residing in a given geographic area. Home ranges can span from two to 10 miles and resident populations will often hold a variety of boars, sows and cubs.

This page provides useful content and local businesses that can help with your search for Mountain Lion Hunting. You will find helpful, informative articles about Mountain Lion Hunting, including "South Dakota Bow Hunter Takes Mountain Lion", "South Dakota Wants to Increase Mountain Lion Limit", and "Mountain Lion Hunt Protesters Draw Licenses". You will also find local businesses that provide the products or services that you are looking for. Please scroll down to find the local resources in Bethlehem, PA that will answer all of your questions about Mountain Lion Hunting.